Washington University in St. LouisCampus Strictness Summary

Written by Arun Sundaresan

Arun Sundaresan

Hometown

Sunnyvale, CA

Major

Business Administration

Grad Year

2015

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The nature of campus strictness has subtly, but noticeably, changed in the last few years at Wash U. A new, more severe alcohol policy was recently introduced, and campus police seem more vigilant about catching students breaking little rules around campus (playing Frisbee golf with beer, for example). Even still, it remains a laid-back campus, and as students point out, if you behave like an adult, the University will treat you as such. Basically, anything that you do in private that doesn't blatantly violate the law or disturb the peace is tolerated. The University obviously does not condone drug use and underage drinking, but they essentially leave it to the students to make their own decisions about that—as long as those decisions don't affect the health or tranquility of others.

On the other hand, in the event that someone repeatedly and blatantly steps over the line in some respect, the University has no mercy. There was a campus-wide drug investigation that led to raids by campus police and resulted in several students being placed on academic probation. It just goes to show that, while the rules are usually barely felt on campus, if you go a little too far, they can become quite tangible.